New Facts About Newington's War Dead Compiled

Veteran James Murphy, Jr., of Newington next to Newington Memorial War monument on Wednesday morning.

Veteran James Murphy, Jr., of Newington next to Newington Memorial War monument on Wednesday morning.

(Marc-Yves Regis I, Special to the Courant)

CHRISTOPHER HOFFMANSpecial to The Courant

Newington's James Murphy Jr. has compiled facts about the town's deceased veterans, starting with World War I

NEWINGTON — The name of every local veteran killed in wars since World War I is etched onto the war memorial at the entrance to town hall. Last fall, James Murphy Jr. vowed to make those men more than letters on granite.

Murphy, who served 40 years in the Army and Army Reserves, set out to learn as much as he could about each veteran who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

"I decided we have to do more," said Murphy, a member of the town's Memorial Day committee. "That's just not enough."

Just in time for Saturday's Memorial Day parade, the parade committee has published a booklet containing the fruits of Murphy's research.

He managed to gather basic information — name, rank, service, dates of birth and death and where they are buried or memorialized — for all 30 men. Murphy also found photographs of all but six of them.

The Newington Memorial Day parade will step off from town hall at Main Street and Robbins Avenue. A ceremony honoring deceased veterans will be at noon at the entrance to town hall. Read more

Wethersfield 9 a.m.

The town's...

In many cases, Murphy was able to uncover more detailed information about the men's service and sacrifice.

One of the most notable is Julian Rudek, after whom Newington's Veterans of Foreign Wars post is named. Rudek was just 21 when his submarine, the USS Barbel, was sunk in February 1945 while on patrol off the Philippines, Murphy said. The submarine, built by Electric Boat in Groton, had completed three patrols and sunk at least six Japanese ships before it was lost.

In doing research, Murphy located the gravestones of Rudek's parents.

"I went out to the memorial and there etched on the memorial was, 'Julian Rudek, Lost at Sea,'" Murphy said.

(Marc-Yves Regis I, special to the Courant)

Veteran James Murphy, Jr., of Newington, compiled a booklet with biographical information on all 30 local men killed in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Veteran James Murphy, Jr., of Newington, compiled a booklet with biographical information on all 30 local men killed in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

((Marc-Yves Regis I, special to the Courant))

Another who stood out was Merrill Hadley Atwell, president of his senior class at Newington High School. Atwell joined the Navy in 1943 and became a gunner and radioman on a Helldiver Navy dive bomber operating off the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La.

On April 30, 1945, Atwell was shot down and killed during a raid on Kikai Jima, islands south of the Japanese main islands.

Other veterans died at the Battle of Bulge or at Normandy in World War II, at Chateau Thierry in France during World War I or were shot down over North Vietnam. Some died of noncombat injuries. Many were brought home for burial, often years after their deaths, but others remain in cemeteries in France or England. Two are interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Murphy managed to find one soldier who died in World I, Charles Hoadley Tudor, not on the memorial. His name will be added, Murphy said.

Several things struck Murphy during his research: the youth of the men — many were just 19 or 20 — and the number of casualties in World War II.

"In 1940, Newington was a milk town with a population of 5,400," Murphy said. "We lost 16 guys in World War II. It's incredible."

To do his research, Murphy scoured old Hartford Courant stories, state archives, cemetery records and the Internet for information.

"It's funny, you go three or four hours without finding anything and then you find a nugget," he said.

Of all the veterans, Murphy has been able find out the least about Herbert A. Wunsch, a petty officer in the battleship service who died in November 1944 in a hospital in Virginia.

After the Memorial Day parade, the committee holds a ceremony in which each name is read and a Boy Scout or Girl Scout or member of the high school Key Club places a rose on the war memorial. Thanks to Murphy's research, the committee this year is asking relatives or friends of every veteran to attend and join the students in placing the roses.

"I'd like to see 30 roses go out with 30 family members," he said.

Murphy said that he hopes his research gives people a better understanding of the meaning of Memorial Day.

"Memorial Day is a wonderful day of celebration, but not necessarily the hot dogs and volley ball and that stuff," he said. "It's remembering these 30 guys."

Murphy, 79, isn't done. He will keep digging and adding information for future printings of the booklet. He asked anyone with information on any veteran to email him at junejar3@yahoo.com.

The Newington Memorial Day parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The ceremony honoring deceased veterans will be at noon at the entrance to town hall.